Winter Boots

Featured review by Matt B

This boot is comfortable, warm, lightweight for a serious snow boot, grips great, clip for gaiters, nothing bad to say except it runs small. I usually wear a 10, bought an 11 and wear with sock liner and heavy wool sock, fit is perfect.

Have worn the Oboz Bridger BDry 10" boots on easy strolls in the woods, in deep snow up in the White Mtns barebooting and snowshoeing hikes in the Berkshires, rain, sleet, mud, stream crossings...pretty much everything.  Overall, Oboz really hit the mark for a HD winter boot. I'd give it 5 out of 5 stars but I'm pretty critical with gear/boots...so consider me a Russian judge...4.5 out of 5 stars I have pretty neutral, "normal" feet, ordered a full size up expecting it to run small and to wear a sock liner+heavy wool sock for winter hiking/snowshoeing.

Read more: Oboz Bridger 10" Insulated Waterproof reviews (3)

Reviewed by King Thurber

THE new classic for mucky weather. Tall enough to keep snow out. The high quality leather on these is nice and soft.

THE new classic for mucky weather. In Alaska known as Juneau Tennis Shoes. Used to have a pair of the Rubber Mocs and wore them all the time in Alaska. Was excited to get new boots as the Intermountain West has lots of snowy, mushy changeable weather. I first ordered the 6" boots, but they chafed my ankle. LL Bean’s superlative customer support exchanged them for the upgrade model.  The high quality leather on these is nice and soft. Worth the extra money.  I really enjoy the collar and the pull-up loop.

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Reviewed by Tsailing Wong

Very comfortable, well-insulated, and water resistant. Wore these on several mountain hikes in Tromso, Norway, without any breaking-in period. No blisters.

Fit: I have size 36.5 feet with large toes and narrow heels, which usually blister with any pair of new shoes. I bought these in size 37.5, shoe width B, and they fit my feet perfectly (with heavy woolen socks and a layer of thin socks). So maybe get a size or half bigger. Comfort: I wore these on several 300m-600m high/4km-10km long mountain hikes in Tromso, Norway, during winter (November) without any breaking-in period. Feet were blister-free at the end of the trip.  Support: The inside sole has well defined arch support, which is great for me as my feet have high arches.

Read more: Oboz Bridger 7" Insulated Waterproof review (1)

Reviewed by LoneStranger

Insulated, waterproof, and comfortable, the Oboz Bridger Mid Insulated is made for those who stay active all winter long. Great with snowshoes, spikes, or on their own. When cold weather calls for a little insulation, but you don't want to be slowed down by heavier, sub zero gear, these boots are ready to go.

Fresh from the trail you can see where snow melt has puddled a bit below the laces on top of the shoe. Those areas took a bit longer to dry, but I never found any moisture seeping through to the foot.The Oboz Bridger waterproof, insulated boot looks and feels much like a regular modern style hiking boot. That is because it is born from the Oboz Bridger Mid Bdry using the same design but adding a little insulation. The 100g of Thinsulate hidden inside turns the standard waterproof Bridger into something much more.

Read more: Oboz Bridger Mid BDry Insulated review (1)

Reviewed by Old Guide

Great tall boot that keeps your pants clean and your feet dry.

I'm on my second pair. Had the first for decades; Bean replaced them, though I would have preferred a repair. Tuck your pants in these boots and your pants stay clean, dry, and tick-free [I bug spray the leather uppers] while keeping your feet warm and dry. These boots are light and really only need minimal break in if any. They are uninsulated, but with two pairs of wool socks I've worn them many times snowshoeing to about 20°f. Put a toe warmer in them and maybe 0°f is possible. At over close to $200 they aren't cheap, but I find these worth it.

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Featured review by North1

Warm but heavy.

I bought these boots out of frustration with all the other boots I have purchased in the past. I need warm boots because I live and work in the Arctic, but have never been able to find something to keep my feet warm for very long. Finally, I bought these and was surprised. The Baffin Apex appear to be a modern version of the old rubber bottom leather top shoe pac that has been around for decades but with a significant increase in insulation. This is a very large boot in that it is rather clunky and heavy, but I guess that is the result from so much insulation. The liners, which are removable, seem to be made out of a bi-componant foam product that do keep my feet warm while moving around at temperatures of minus 40°C or so.

Read more: Baffin Apex reviews (2)

Featured review by LoneStranger

Well insulated and completely waterproof these boots are great for bitter winter cold and times when things are less frozen too. Not for serious climbing but perfect for bushwhacking, shoveling the drive or a long sledding session with the kids.

Being a boot with a thick insulated liner the Impacts felt very loose when I tried them on and I worked my way down through a few sizes before settling on a 12, which is about middle of the road as boots normally run for me.  They have a two belt system for tension application, but that mostly works to hold the boot to the end of the leg as opposed to clinching around the foot.  This allows for unrestricted blood flow and some space for the insulation to work but also a loose feel on the foot.

Read more: Baffin Impact reviews (4)

Reviewed by Martin Pouliot

Great fit, insulated with 400g Thinsulate, and has an excellent gripping sole. This is my first experience with Keen products, and I wonder why I didn't try them on before!

The fit is great. I usually wear 9.5 or 10 US in boots and the 10 US is great, plenty space for socks and toes. I use to wear mid hiking boots for my winter hikes but needed warmer boots as I aged.  Sole has great traction, since it is not Vibram but Keen's own brand.  I woud have given them 5 stars, but it misses a locking eyelid for the heel (heel lock). I don't know who tests the company boots (Keen or other brands), but Keen are way to generous with the -40°c rating! Been using them at -25°c, with a medium Smartwool hiking pair of socks, and let me tell you that is the real world upper limit.

Read more: Keen Revel IV High Polar Waterproof Boot review (1)

Featured review by Old Guide

These boots are a warm, dry, and light pac boot made by a proven company.

I like these boots a whole lot. 12 inches high, which is important and standard boot wear to me, prevents snow and water getting in on ankles and stops lots of brush and briar wear on pants. They are rated for -40°f but I've never had them below about -12°f and they were warm and comfortable. They fit well out of the box with no problems except maybe with my wide foot they could've been a bit wider but the liner does collapse some after some use, making these quite comfortable. 200 gram removable synthetic liner.

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Featured review by LoneStranger

Insulated and waterproof for cold and wet active use this full, over the ankle boot is great for those who work and play in winter conditions. A combination of natural and synthetic materials keeps the Coldsparks flexible in deep cold. The outsole is a proprietary, dual density compound that provides good traction across the temperature spectrum.

Specs: Weight: 2 lb 3 oz/1kg per Vasque Weight on my scale: 2 lb 11.5oz/1.237kg for US11.5 Med Width Last: Perpetuum Upper: 1.8mm Waterproof Leather, Softshell Footbed: Dual Density EVA Midsole: Molded EVA Outsole: Vasque Monolith with ColdHold Compound MSRP: $139.99           Full boot coverage and 200g of Thinsulate, yet under 3lbs in 11.5US Fit & Comfort: The Vasque Coldspark Ultradry insulated boots I received for testing came in my standard size; US 11.5 / EU 45 in a Medium width.

Read more: Vasque Coldspark UltraDry reviews (2)